Loose leaf record book



Sept. 5y 1933.;

E. c. HAzEL Al. Losn LEAF RECORD ovoK Filed 001i'. l0,- 1952 IIIA,

INVENTORS, Vf/)eff ze/ ZIV/eff 1562! J5:

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1933 MTED STATES- 11,925,719 moss LEAF ascolti) noon l Ernest 6. Hazel and Ernest Hazel, Jr., Atchison,` Kans.

- Application October l0, 119324. Serial No. 636,994

. QGamS. (G11. L29-23) I This invention relates to loose leafbinders,- and particularly that type known in. ther art as public ing locking mechanism associated therewith thatE is constructed in a unique and novel manner to present a compact, durable, strong and automatically latching part which renders the binder lexceedingly desirable.

Another aim of the instant invention` is the contemplation of a loose leaf binder having hingedly interconnected back and covers, the pin of said hingealso supporting a binding member for movement to and ,froml a place in engagement with the posts and against the sheets of the filler, said back of the binder carrying guide stops for the purpose of engaging the bound edges of the sheets, whereby to maintain all of said parts in aplace where 2o movement of the binding members to proper asso,

ciation with the posts is insured when said binding members are swung about the axial center of the hinge pin or when the cover of the binder` is closed.

to provide unique locking structure to releasably and automatically engage the posts ofa loose leaf binder without manual manipulation excepting when it is desired to release the locking members from their grip on the posts.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the use )within a chambered binding member, of a pair` of vrelatively movable locking bars, between which is disposed resilient means for maintaining the same in a predetermined position, as well as means for-insuring that Ythe said locking meml bers are moved simultaneously when force is ex- ,Lerted upon either, all ofthe aforesaid parts of the locking mechanism being housed within the binding member and'disposed in the same. pla-ne. The above enumerated objects, as well asmany specific structural details forming a part of this invention, will be made clear during the course l illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view through one of the chambered lbinding members of the binder, showing the locking mechanism which is housed therein.

Fig'. 4 a fragmentary,- detailed, sectional view One of the salient objects of this invention is' In each binder there are two plates through aportion of the binder, taken on line V-IV of rFig. `1.- Figw is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the relation' of post and locking bars.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view taken on line VI-V'I of Fig. 3, and, I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary,:perspective view of one end of the binder posts.

A binder embodying the improvements contemplated by this invention is composed essentially of a back l0 and covers 12 that are hingedly associated with said back 10 and, in this'instance, the hinge connection is made in a special manner, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Offset plate 14 is riveted or otherwise secured `to each cover 12. A portion of plate 14 lies along the inner face of associated cover 12., while another portion of the plate lies i'n .substantially the same'plane as the outer face of cover 12. The offset thus created is suiiicient to accommodate the'hereinafter described binding members .and allows the placement vof ller sheets 16, as shown.

One edge of plate 14 is formed to present hinge barrels 18, through which is passed a rod 20 which acts as a pivotal member for all of the hingedlyl connected parts of the binder. To complete the hinge connection between back 10 and covers 12,

Athere is provided a back plate 22 which is riveted as at 24 directly to the inner side of back 10. One edge of this plate 22 has hinge barrels 26 formed thereon, through which passes 4rod 20.

l,This particular type of construction permits the use ofstandard parts for making binders of various capacities.

22 and their distance apartis governed by. the width of back 10. This manner of forming `the binder has been found advantageous and theexpedient does not rob the structure of rigidity orv strength. At each side of back 10 there is a hingedly mounted chambered binding member 28 which has ears 30 formed thereon for the reception of hinge rod 20. These ears extend outwardly from binding member 28, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and

when the parts are assembled, covers, back and bindingimember., l2, 10 and 28, all pivot about the axis of rod20. A vnumber of posts 32, which Amay be either straight. orv arcuate, are associated with binding members 28, and when the same are in the operative position supporting sheets 16, these posts are releasably engaged at each end thereof by structure carriedby chambered bind-- ing members-28.

' The binding edge 34 of; ller sheets 16 lies in a plane parallel to posts 32, and it 4is desirable may be swung into locking engagement with the posts. To accomplish this result, guidev stops in 5 the form of ribs 36 are formed integrally with back andare disposed transversely' thereof at vspaced apart points throughout its length. These ribs 3 6 are desirably located immediately opposite each post 32, as shown in Fig. 4. 10 When the binder is being closed back 10 is moved to a point where'rib 36 and the binding edge 34 of sheets 16 engage, at which time the uppermost cover 12 may be thrown to the closed position lWithout danger of binding members 15 and posts 28 and 32 not coming into .proper engagement. These ribs 36 are created in precisely the same manner as the well known hubs are formed on the outer side of binder backs'll) and may be built up of binders board or similar material. l

The posts used in a binder `embodying this in- 'ventionare made in a special fashion, asy shown in Figs. 1, 5 and '7. Each post is provided with y an inwardly projecting notch 38 formed in each edge near the ends of posts 32. A head is formed above these notches 38 and constitutes a num-4 ber of converging, inclined faces 40 and 42, all of which meet on a single central line or edge.

Apertures 44 are formed through one wall of chambered binding n'embers 28 to receive posts 32 and anv emboss 46 is pressed from vthe opposite wall of member 28 in opposed relation to each aperture 44. The internal contour o`f these embosses 46. is precisely the same as the contour -35 of the .head formed on said posts. The angles of inclination are the same as inclined faces 40 and 42, and when the post 32 is seated, as shown in Figs.1 and 5, lateral movement is precluded and rigidity-. is imparted thereto. Y f

40 The bringing together of :faces 40 and 42 so that they meet upon an edge extending across post 32 likewise'requires that thepost be centered at all times, `thus to eliminate any possible bindingv upon theA punchingsof sheet 16 and also to eliminate improper action on the behalf of the hereinafter described locking -bars housed within members 28. Unique locking structure forms an important -part of this invention andreference to Fig. 3

readily indicates that the same comprises a pair of locking bars 48 and 50 that are positioned- 4in the same plane and disposed in edge-to-edge relation within member 28. The abutting edges of bars 48 and 50 are specially formed to create shoulders 52 and 54 respectively, between which is positioned a spring 56. This spring exerts its .tension longitudinally upon bars 48 and 50, each -bar being forced in a direction opposite to the other. Shoulders 52`and 54 are in spaced`apart,. l overlapping relation, and spring 56 is positioned therebetweenin the same plane with bars 48 and 50.

To insure simultaneously longitudinal'novement, each bar 48 and 50 has a rack 58 and 60 re- I spectively formed thereon. Ihese racks are-in facing relation and are in mesh with a pinion 62 which likewise lies in the same plane as bars '48 and 50. Pinion 62 is supported for free rotation by pinne 64, that is in tum carriedby. bind-- 70 ing member 28.' Thus pinion 62 will rotate but cannot move longitudinally with either ofthe locking bars.

Post receiving openings 66 are created between opposed, tapered tongues 68 and 70, formed on 'E5 bars 48 and 50 respectively. These tongues are the-chamber formed by binding member 28, in-

clined faces 40 will move against the underside of tongues 68 and '70 to force them apart against the-action of spring 56. These tongues immediately jump back intol engagement with notches 381and post 32 is thereby held na locked posi- 85 tion.

Locking bar 50- projects beyond the end o member 28 and l, has formed -thereon a nger grip 72 which may be grasped when it is desired to move apart tongues 68 and 70 to release posts 90 32 from engagement by the locking structure. Such longitudinal movement asis manually irnparted to bar 50 is transmitted to'bar 48 through rack and pinion arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3 so that all of the posts 32 of the binder may be 95 released simultaneously. Obviously, notches 38 are in the same plane as the remaining abovementioned parts of the locking structure when the same are in the locked position, all of which is an advantage'not -only from the standpoint of com- 100 4pactness, but from the point of creating an automatic latch which works in the above-mentioned manner Without the use of a large number of complicated parts.

Structure such as hereinbefore set forth com- 105 bines to produce a record book that is exceptionally desirable. When it is no longer necessary to place and remove sheets-to and from the binder. respectively, locking b ars may be Vsecured against relative movement by depressing tongue 74 into 119 opening '76. Tongue 74 is simply formed in the upper wall of binding member 28 by slitting three sidesthereof, as shown in Fig. 2, and when a permanent lock is necessary, tongue 74 is merely driven into openingl '76 which is formed through 115 one of vthe locking b ars housed within binding member 28. l

' The operation of a binder embodying the features of this invention has been made clear during the course of the detailed specication, and;2G while definite forms for the parts have `been shown and described, it is understood that, enjoyment .of the invention is to be limited only by the spirit thereof and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described thefinvention, what is claimed as new vand desired to be secured by' Letters Patent is: A

1. In aN bindenth'e combination with a back, covers, binding members, means for hingedly interconnecting the back, a cover and a binding member for movement about a common axis, and sheet impaling posts, of guides formed by said back to limit the movement of said back toward 135 said posts; and oppositely movable, spring actuated, locking bars carried by said binding mem-,.

interconnecting said back and covers respectively; a c hambered, binding member, having apertures formed through the side thereof, swin'gably carried by each hinge respectively for movement about the axis of the latter; sheet impaling'posts each having notches formed adjacent the ends thereof; a pair of post engaging bars within each binding member; a spring exerting yielding pressure uponsaid bars longitudinally thereof and 3. In a loose leaf binder, a back; covers, hinges interconnecting said back and covers respectively; a chambered binding member, havingapertures formed through the side thereof, swingably carried by each hinge respectively lfor movement about the axis of the latter; sheet impaling posts each having notches formed adjacent the ends thereof; a pair of post engaging bars within each binding member; a spring interposed -4 between said bars and exerting yielding pressure thereupon in opposite directions; a rack and pinion connection between said bars to insure simultaneous movement thereof; and an emboss formed in each binding member opposite each aperture formed thereon, said bars, spring and rack and pinion all being in the same plane, said posts'projecting into said embosses of, the binding members, through the respective apertures and intersecting the plane of said locking members and said associated parts.

4. In a loose leaf binder o f the character described, chambered binding members each having an aperture formed through one wall thereof; an emboss formed by the opposite wall in opposed relation to each aperture; and a post traversing said binding members through each aperture respectively and into the respective emboss. said post having opposed notches formed inwardly from each edge respectively thereof adjacent the ends, and converging, inclined faces all meeting at a common edge at each end of the post, each emboss having interior faces inclined similarly to the inclined faces of said post, said faces being in engagement to center said post in the post receiving apertures and to preclude relative lateral movement between said post and binding members.

5. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, a chambered binding member, having apertures formed through one wall thereof; posts each having opposed notches formed in opposite edges thereof; an inclined face extending upwardly and inwardly from each notch respectively; means for swingably mounting said binding member for movement to and from a position where the posts project into the chamber of said member through said apertures; and'a pair 'of spring actuated, longitudinally movable locking bars housed by said binding member, each movable in an opposite direction by engagement with the respective inclined faces whereby to guide the same into said notches, said notches and both bars all being in the same plane when interengaged.

' 6. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, a swingable chambered binding member, having an aperture formed through one Wall thereof; a notched post positioned for projection into the chamber through the said aperture; and releasable structure within the chamber of the binding member for engaging said post when the movable locking bars in edge-to-edge, relation, a

ing against said shoulders to urge said 'bars into the notches of said post, said bars, notches and spring all being disposed in the (same plane within the said chamber of the binding member.

7; In a loose leaf binder of the character described, a swingable chambered binding member,

.having an aperture formed .through one wall thereof; a notched post positioned for projection into the chamber through the said aperture; and

releasable structure within the chamber of the binding member for engaging said post when the binding member is swung comprising a pair of oppositely movable locking barsv having' portions of therlongitudinal edges in abutting relation and formed to provide spaced apart shoulders, a 'spring between said shoulders and exerting pressure against said bars, longitudinally thereof and in opposite directions to each other, and opposed, tapered, notch-engaging tongues formed by the said bars, said bars, spring, tongues and notches all being disposed in the same plane within the said chamber of the binding member.

8. In a loose leaf binder of the character described, a swingable chambered binding member, having an aperture formed through one wall thereof; a notched post positioned for projection into the chamber through the said aperture; and releasable structure within the chamber of the binding member for engaging said post when the binding member is swung comprising a pair of oppositely movable locking bars having spaced shoulders formed along their `abutting longitudinal edges, a spring between two of said shoulders to urge the bars longitudinally in opposite directions to each other, facing racks formed on said bars, and a rotatable pinion in'mesh with both of said racks, a pintle carried by said binding member and supporting said pinion for free disposed in the same plane within the said chamber of the binding member.

9. In a loose leaf binder of the characterdescribed, a swingable chambered binding member, having an aperture formed through one Wall thereof; a notched post positioned forfp'rojection into the chamber through the said aperture; and releasable structure within the chamber of the binding member for engaging said post when the binding member is swung comprising a pair of oppositely movable locking bars, shoulders formed on said bars, a spring between said. shoulders to urge the bars longitudinally in opposite directions to each other, facing racks formed by the said bars, a pinion in mesh with both of said racks, a pintle carried by said binding member to support said pinion for free rotation whereby to cause the said bars to move simultaneously in opposite directions when one of said bars is moved, and facing, tapered tongues integral with the bars to engage the notches of the post, said bars, shoulders, spring, pinion, racks and tongues all being disposed in the same plane within the said chamber of the binding member.

' ERNEST C. HAZEL.

ERNEST HAZEL, JR.

shoulder .formed on each bar, and a spring bearrotation, said pinion, bars, and spring all being .115' 

